Page 82 of Johnathan

John drove the sleepy streets, past the new bed and breakfast that had been built over the last year. It was beautiful. Maybe he should see about booking an overnight stay for him and Abby.

His phone rang, and John saw his brother was trying to call through. He’d heard the call about the fire at Sal’s and assumed his brother was dispatched to it.

“Jackson, what’s up? You guys get called to the fire at Sal’s?”

“Yeah. We’re here. Where are you right now?”

“Hank has me in Lark Lake tonight. Why?”

“Look, I want you to promise me you’re not going to freak out.”

His breath froze in his chest. “What the fuck happened?”

“That doesn’t sound like you keeping a cool head.”

“Fuck you. Tell me.”

“I need you to come down here.”

“To Sal’s? Why? You need me to get Grace?”

“It’s not me. The girls were here. And Ab?—”

“What about her?” Why wasn’t he just saying all the information at once? His fucking heart was pounding out of his chest.

“She’s been hurt.”

John flipped on his lights and pulled a U-turn in the middle of the road. “What the fuck do you mean, she’s been hurt? And don’t you dare fucking tell me in snippets. Just give me the whole picture… now.”

“Calm down. She’s getting looked over by the paramedics and seems okay. The thing is, she asked me not to call you. She doesn’t want to make a big fuss of it, but Hank and Seb are here now. I figured you’d want to be here for your girl, too.”

“Damn straight I want to be there,” he barked. “You make sure she doesn’t leave without me.”

“Yeah, will do.”

John’s legs felt weak as he pulled into the parking lot for Sal’s Bistro and Bar thirty minutes later. He parked next to the fire engine, his eyes bouncing through the people milling about. Jumping from the driver’s seat, John finally saw Abby sitting on the sidewalk with his brother crouched down in front of her. Emma, Daisy, and Grace were standing with Sebastian and Hank.

His stomach soured as he took her in. Her normally rose-tinted skin was pale. She looked exhausted and there was a white bandage covering part of her hair. Fuck, she’d hurt her head. Would it trigger a migraine for her? It took every ounce of self-control he possessed to not run straight to her, scoop her up, and walk to his house with her still in his arms.

He noticed she was holding an ice pack to her head and had a bulky coat draped across her shoulders, one withBELL RIDGE FIRE DEPARTMENTon the back.

That fucker.

“Abby.” Her eyes snapped up from her hands to meet his. “Jesus, baby. Are you okay? What the hell happened?”

Jackson stood and John knelt down in front of her, taking her face in his hands. She was there. She was alert, and breathing, and every fear of Jackson not telling him the truth faded from his chest.

“John. What are you doing here?”

Jackson answered before he could. “I called him.”

“Jackson! I told you not to bother him. I’m fine.”

“Honey,” Grace bent down and patted her back. “You got a pretty nasty gash on the back of your head. And he would have been even more upset if he’d found out through the grapevine that something happened to you.”

“What the helldidhappen?” John reached his hand around to the back of her head as he tried to calm the anger seeping through his veins. Abby had been hurt, and he wanted answers. She winced as his hand brushed over her matted hair. “How are you the only person who got hurt?”

“I’ll tell you later. Honestly, the paramedics already glued the cut shut, so I can go home. Seb and Emma offered to give me a ride. You can go back to work and we can talk tomorrow.”

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